We are a group of imperfect people pursuing a perfect God. We exist to help each other find and follow Christ. These are some things we want to be true of our group:

We create a safe and honest environment, staying transparent and authentic.

We keep it inside the circle. Confidentiality is necessary for a healthy group.

We look together to the Bible for help and guidance, and keep out our own politics, sales, or agendas.

We do not try to fix each other, preach sermons, or give unsolicited advice. We instead encourage, listen to, and celebrate each other.

We handle conflict between us quickly and honestly by going to the person, owning our part, and practicing forgiveness.

We respect each others’ time by starting and ending when we say we will.

We trust that it is God’s role to change people, not ours.

We believe that in Jesus Christ, there is hope for everyone.

Growing up, who did you want to be? Who was your role model?

When we look at all the possible things that can hurt us, it doesn't seem like comparison is all that dangerous. But God would tell us that comparison is a bigger deal than we might think. Today, we hold the possibility for comparison and envy in the palm of our hand. We see the highlight reels of other people's lives day in and day out, and it's easy to begin resenting God's goodness in their lives and ignoring His goodness in our own. But God offers us a better way that leads to real joy, if only we'd gladly invest the lives that we've been given.

CONNECT

The land of -ER and -ESTHas anyone in your life held you to an -ER or -EST standard? How did that affect you?

APPLY

EnvyJodi said that envy is “resenting God’s goodness in someone else’s life while ignoring His goodness in mine.” Can envy and gratitude coincide in our hearts? How have you seen one force out the other in your own life?

Envy rots the bonesProverbs 14:30 says “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” Would you agree with this assessment of the effect of envy? Can you relate to envy's dangerous effect?

Jesus' Parable In Matthew 25:16-27, Jesus says, “The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. 18 But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’ “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together.The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’ The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’

But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’

What stands out to you from Jesus' story? What questions do you have? What do you think is interesting or strange?

Jodi pointed out that the final servant ends up blaming his master instead of taking responsibility for his own actions, and she said that the idea that "God owes me" is at the root of our problems with comparison. In what area of your life can you this mentality at the root of feelings of envy or comparison?

In Jesus' story, the first two money managers understood that the money didn't belong to them - so they had extra incentive to use it wisely. What would change if you viewed your life in the same way that the people in Jesus' story viewed what they were given?

Celebrating othersIf celebrating others was easy, we would all be happier, more encouraged people. But because of this weapon of comparison, it's hard to joyfully celebrate the goodness in others' lives. What is hard for you to celebrate in others' lives? Why is it so hard?

FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONWhat would it take for you to intentionally celebrate someone you might normally envy this week?

Who You AreGalatians 6:4 says, “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.” What is the creative best that you've been created to do? What is a gift, a talent, or a passion that God has given you to invest in His Kingdom? How can you take a step toward that investment this week?

READ. PRAY. DO.

READ

Genesis 4Read the story of Cain and Abel, the first story of jealousy recorded in the Bible!

PRAY

You can use this prayer to kickstart your personal prayer time this week. Father, we have spent so much precious time comparing ourselves to others; resenting your goodness in others’ lives and ignoring your goodness in our own. Release me from the burden of comparison, from the wasted time spent wishing that my life was different. Give me the courage to celebrate others, the clarity to see how immeasurably generous you've been to me, and the faith to invest the life I've been given in things that truly matter.

DO

Celebrate someone extravagantly!Envy is chased out when we actively and joyfully celebrate others - especially when it's someone we would normally envy. So think of someone who you might normally have a hard time celebrating, and prayerfully consider how you might need to celebrate them this week in a tangible and joyful way.